audi s5 v nissan gt-r s5 compared to nissan... · nissan gt-r: 500bhp from its twin-turbo 3.8-litre...

Nissan GT-R: 500bhp from its twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8

Audi S5: 374bhp from its naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8

44 GREAT CARS September 2008

Audi S5 v Nissan GT-R

They may come from different sides of the performance car coin, but the Audi S5 and Nissan GT-R are two of the only AWD four-seat coupés you can buy. We pitch the pair together in a remarkably revealing duel.

We used to look towards the Orient for cheap imitations: cars that may have been rammed to the gunwales with extras but lacked the quality build and longevity required to cut it with the best Europe had to offer. Not any more.

It’s not been the case for quite some time, actually. Honda’s current range of passenger cars and people movers represents a viable alternative to customers looking at entry level premium brand cars, while Lexus, Infiniti and other makers continue to push the development envelope with exciting concepts.

Nissan has always delivered with its top end products. The Skyline’s reputation for supercar rivalling pace, power and handling was cemented during the early 1990s. The R32 GT-R decimated tin-top racing categories around the globe and was largely responsible for the demise of Group A Touring Car racing, such was its dominance. It was banned from competing at Australia’s

September 2008 GREAT CARS 45

premiere endurance race Bathurst, and continued to solidify this mystique with the release of the R33 GT-R and R34 GT-R.

Believe it or not, it’s been 10 years since the R34 GT-R’s launch – and it’s still as impressive now as the day it was let loose on the public. Its every-branch-of-the-ugly-tree-on-the-way-down looks, a stupendously strong and underworked engine and its incredible spec list, transmission

system, suspension and brakes means it’s the sort of machine that makes boy racers want to ditch their salacious magazines of an evening and drool over a different kind of racy bodywork. So, why on earth would Nissan want to replace it? Simple: it was old. One look at the new GT-R is enough to see just how much more advanced it is than the R34. It’s bigger in every respect: taller, wider, longer and heavier – no small feat considering the R34 makes a decent dent in the tarmac when parked – and the interior is brimming with new gadgets, a fresh fascia and futuristic instrument binnacle designed by the bods at Polyphonic Digital, creators of the Gran Turismo Playstation games.

Due for launch in Europe next year, the R35 will mark the GT-R’s 40th birthday in style. It was launched in Japan last December and in the USA last month, but limited production capacity (1000 units a month worldwide) and the need to build specialist service centres for the car has meant a staged release was necessary.

That said, there are a few grey imports about for those who are willing to forego a full

manufacturer warranty in exchange for the honour of owning one of the first GT-Rs in the country. It’s not an ideal way of obtaining one: they need to be brought in to line with UK SVA regulations, and the complex ECU means a number of other considerations need to be made (speed limiter, the absence of Nissan’s technical back-up, for instance) but, if you’re desperate for one, there are specialists who can help. This one was brought in to the UK by SVA Imports, Dover, for owner Raef Davies to use – and he loves it.

“It’s got everything I like about sports cars rolled in to one. It looks good, it’s got a great engine and it handles very well. You can change the set-up for the road and the track, and they’re not little changes either: they’re noticeable,” he said. “It leaves my R34 GT-R Nür-Spec II for dead. I never thought I’d ever say that.”

Underneath the bulbous, sculpted exterior lies a new 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 based on the 3.5-litre engine used in the 350Z. The chassis is also originally derived from the FM-floorpan used

The Audi is more subtle than the Nissan, preferring to sandbag its performance potential

The S5’s engine note is glorious. It’s amazing Audi has underplayed the car’s

potential with a subtle look



in the 350Z, but is radically modified to allow the transmission to be mounted just ahead of the rear axle. This means two of the car’s heaviest parts – the engine and gearbox – can be more evenly distributed between the two axles. As a consequence, rear leg-room and passenger space remains the preserve of those without the need for such luxuries as a place to put their feet.

Not that it’s a prime concern for anyone with an eye on the car’s ultimate performance. With AWD, a dual clutch transmission and close to 500bhp available from the twin-turbo engine, the R35 GT-R is a very fast machine. Even at a standstill on tick-over, the engine bristles with a hard-edged engine note that you feel through the seat. It’s not unpleasant but after a few days of cossetted luxury inside the S5, the GT-R’s raw edge is a wake-up call. And so is the acceleration.Blinding. Dump the clutch, floor the throttle and you’ll swear an 18-wheeler has rammed in to the

back of you. It has the sort of throw-your-head back, kick-you-in-the-pants acceleration only aircraft carrier jet pilots and F1 drivers get to experience, while the split second flat-shifting action of the paddle-shift gearbox means you waste precious few milliseconds as the car swaps cogs.

Quite how UK spec cars will differ is difficult to determine ahead of the launch. Jap-spec machines are limited to 112kph but clever on-board electronics and GPS-based systems unlock this when the car is used on a circuit in Japan. The system also sends a message to Nissan to tell them the car has been tracked, and that it should be

The S5’s interior is familiar to anyone who’s driven a late model Audi.



serviced immediately. It’s an ingenious feature but it’s not clear whether it will be included on UK spec cars. The popularity of track days here would suggest a need for it, though programming in the locations of every track in the UK and Europe may take a little time and effort.

The Audi S5 looks relatively tame and reserved compared to the GT-R, but its spec list is quite impressive. The subtle shape of the A5 has been

visually enhanced with chrome extras and a little tell-tale V8 badge just behind the front wheel arches, while the interior has all the usual modern Audi touches like the superb MMI central control system, infinitely adjustable leather seats and brilliant entertainment and information systems.

With a mere 374bhp from its 4.2-litre V8 and a six-speed manual gearbox, it lacks the outright pace and power of the GT-R, but is still an amazing machine when pushed. The quattro AWD system remains as tenacious as ever without detracting from the driving experience. It may not be an extreme driving machine but it’ll deliver you to your destination without creasing your suit jacket or leaving you punch-drunk from the drive. It’s also got a massive boot: plenty big enough for suitcases, golf-clubs and anything else you may need for a weekend away, while legroom in the rear is exceptionally generous for a car of its class.

In isolation, the S5 feels fast. The V8 is a little too muted for those used to the raw edge of the unit fitted to the 420bhp RS4, but the subtle engine has more than enough power for almost every situation. It’s unlikely to ever find itself on

a track, and its understated looks mean you can park it almost anywhere without fear of it being keyed or a crowd forming around it to have their pictures taken with it.

Push the car on the road and you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying drive. It feels nimble for such a big coupé, while the brakes and engine are superb. Handling is sharp, though a little excess bodyroll takes the edge off an otherwise responsive chassis. It’s not a negative point: the S5’s sporty character isn’t compromised and, if you’re going to spend most of your motoring miles mashing the motorway, ultimate handling isn’t a prime concern anyway. If that’s the sort of A5 you want, then you’re going to have to wait for the RS5 – and Audi is playing its cards fairly close to its chest over the possible release of that. Some have hinted the car may be seen as soon as the end of the year, while others deny Audi even has plans to release it.

Is it fast? Well, put it this way: it outstrips the R34 GT-R in a

head to head sprint.

The R35 will mark the GT-R’s 40th anniversary in

style when launched in the UK next year



As a direct comparison, the GT-R and S5 share a few basics. They’re both AWD two-door coupés: one comes with an established history of quality build and exceptionally strong engineering oriented luxury heritage; the other a world-beating circuit racer with supercar rivalling performance and tenacity.

As a package, the S5 is difficult to beat. It’s a dinner-for-two over £40k and represents one of the best performance bargains available at the moment. It’s not the fastest coupé out there, but the evocative engine note, spec levels and AWD system eclipse anything else in its class. Even the more expensive M3 starts to look a little over-priced in comparison.

The GT-R is exceptional. Rammed with more technology than ever before, the car’s ground-up resurrection truly deserves to wear the famous GT-R badge. It’s already floored journalists who’ve tested the car fully – and we’ll bring you more as Nissan readies the car for the UK market

and allows us to drive the official cars. It’s likely to cost between £55-60k when finally launched, making it considerably more expensive than the S5 and propelling it precariously close to 911-territory. It is, of course, a lot faster than the entry-level 911s you could otherwise have and remains £30k cheaper than the similarly powered 911 Turbo. It’s infinitely more desirable as a pure petrolhead’s machine too, so residuals on the car should remain buoyant over the next few years.

Both cars represent AWD coupé motoring nirvana. They may come from different sides of the tracks, but both manage to scale the heights of automotive desirability with deft ease and superb execution. It’s hard to argue with the S5’s price tag.

The GT-R is stunning from almost any angle.



audi s5 v nissan gt-r s5 compared to nissan... · nissan gt-r: 500bhp from its twin-turbo 3.8-litre...

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